UGA student arrested for DUI after breaking car’s axle in crash near downtown Athens

Noah Baldwin Fears

By Joe Johnson

A 22-year-old University of Georgia student was arrested last week after he crashed his car near downtown Athens and tried to continue driving even though its front axle had been broken.

According to a police report, the incident happened at about 1:53 a.m. April 18 when Noah Fears was driving on South Church Street and his Acura TLX crossed to other side where it struck the curb multiple times then drove back and struck the other curb, where the car remained due to the broken axle.

“Despite this, the driver continued to press the gas in an attempt to leave the scene” and needed to be instructed to remove his foot from the gas pedal, a responding officer wrote in the report.

Fears displayed several indications of intoxication, the officer reported, including alcohol on his breath, slurred speech and disorientation.

The UGA student reportedly explained that he had been driving from a fraternity event where he had consumed two “bourbon/whiskey” drinks.

He was taken into custody after he failed roadside sobriety tests and at the downtown police station he was tested with an Intoxilyzer 9000 machine which indicated a blood-alcohol concentration of .201 percent.

Fears was arrested for DUI and released from custody several hours later upon posting a $1,500 bond.

2015 Acura TLX